Towel dispensing cabinet and control mechanism



3, 1965 L. H. KIRKELL 3,198,591

TOWEL DISPENSING CABINET AND CONTROL MECHANISM Filed April 11, 1963 2Sheets-Sheet 1 I 54 29 INVENTOR.

LEON H. K/RKELL fume. M

A Harneys 3, 1965 H. KIRKELL 3,198,591

TOWEL DISPENSING CABINET AND CONTROL MECHANISM Filed April 11, 1965 2Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. LEON H. K/RKELL ifu m mu Attorneys UnitedStates Patent '0 3,198,591 TOWEL DISPENSING CABINET AND CONTROLMECHANISM Leon H. Kirkell, Blairsville, Pa, assignor to BlairsvilleMachine Products Company, Blairsville, Pa, a corporation of PennsylvaniaFiled Apr. 11, 1963, Ser. No. 272,434 7 Claims. (Cl. 312-38) The presentinvention relates to towel dispensing cabinets of the continuous type,wherein a measured length of toweling is initially exposed and asadditional clean toweling is withdrawn, the used toweling is taken upupon a separate roll disposed within the cabinet.

More specifically, the present invention embodies a sturdy, simplifiedtowel measuring and dispensing mechanism having a single pivotallymounted member actuated by a toweling withdrawal movement to measure thelength of toweling withdrawn, restrict Withdrawal of soiled toweling andactuate a timing device to prevent rapid successive withdrawals oftoweling.

The towel measuring and dispensing mecahnism is assembled as a unit formounting within and removing from the cabinet. The cabinet has slottedportions permitting mounting and removal of the mechanism by simplevertical movements and the cabinet also provides a fixed membercooperating with a movable mechanism member to lock the mechanism inplace, against accidential displacement.

Prior art cabinets and towel dispensing and measuring mechanism havetended to become quite complicated due to the number of moving partsthereof and due to wearing of the parts, ceased to operate or would jamand become inoperable due to the abuse to which they are frequentlysubjected.

One object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism of thetype described which is actuated by withdrawal of a permissive length oftoweling moving over the mechanism towel measuring roll.

Another object of the invention is to provide the sim plified strongtowel dispensing mechanism with a readily adjustable timing mechanismwhich is actuated by withdrawal of a length of toweling and afterpassage of a preselected time interval releases the mechanism forfurther withdrawal of toweling.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple, sturdy assemblyof cabinet and towel dispensing mechanism, wherein the clean and soiledtoweling are separately maintained within the cabinet.

These and other objects of the invention will be made apparent from thefollowing description and the drawing forming a part of thereof,wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a side elevation of the assembled cabinet and mechanism,with the near side wall of the cabinet removed to disclose the interiormechanism and toweling;

FIG. 2 shows a front elevation of the cabinet interior with the cabinetfront wall removed;

FIG. 3 shows a plan view of the towel dispensing mechanism separatedfrom the cabinet;

FIG. 4 shows a side elevation of the towel dispensing mechanism,positioned to permit withdrawal of a measured length of toweling andwith the roll drive chain and sprockets removed;

FIG. 5 shows the mechanism of FIG. 4 at the end of the towel withdrawalmovement and with the timing mechanism set for passage of a preselectedtime interval before another measured length of toweling may bewithdrawn; 7

FIG. 6 shows a partial side elevation of the mechanism as positioned inFIG. 4;

FIG. 7 shows a partial side elevation of the mechanism as positioned inFIG. 5both FIGS. 6 and 7 omitting the roller drive chain and sprocketsfor the sake of clarity.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, the cabinet of FIGS. 1 and 2 iscomprised of a separate rear wall 5 and a wrap around body portionproviding a top wall 6 and side walls 7 and 8 which are secured to therear wall 5 by overlapping flanges, not shown, suitably connectedthereto as by welding. Between and extending below the lower edges ofthe side walls 7 and 8 is a generally U- shaped insert 9 providing thebottom wall 10 of the cabinet. arms offset outwardly and secured to theside walls 7 and 8. The lower edges of the side walls 7 and 8 areintumed and secured to the member, 9. Extending inwardly from rear wall5 and longitudinally of bottom wall 10 is an opening 11 receiving thesoiled toweling as herein after discussed. Pivotally mounted upon thebottom wall 10, at one side of opening 11, so as to extend acrossopening 11 towards rear wall 5 and inwardly of the cabinet is a member12 serving to support a roll of clean toweling and to protect it fromthe incoming soiled toweling. The front of the cabinet is closed by atop member 13 pivotally mounted upon top wall 6 and bottom member 14pivotally mounted upon bottom wall 10. Members 13 and 14 overly thecabinet side walls and terminate in spaced relation to each otherproviding a transverse open: ing 15 through which clean toweling iswithdrawn.

Within the cabinet, upon the back wall 5 and extending downwardly fromadjacent the top wall 6 is a means for detachbly mounting the toweldispensing mechanism within the cabinet. Such means comprise the angularmembers 16 and 17 secured to rear wall 5 adjacent each side wall. Eachmember 15 and 17 has a leg portion 16a, 17a attached to the rear wall,an upstanding leg portion 16b, 17b disposed in spaced substantiallyparallel relation to the adjacent side wall and flanges 16c, 17cdisposed towards the adjacent side wall. Each member 16 and 1'7 hasadjacent each end thereof slots 16d and 17d through and and a portion of16b and 171). Both 16b and 17b have slots 16e and 17e thereincommunicating with slots 16d and 17d. Extending transversely of rearwall 5 and between the lower ends of members 16 and 17 is an angularmember 18 having a leg 18a secured to members 16, 17 and an upstandingleg 18b. A filler member 19 may be disposed beneath member leg 18abetween members 16 and 17 so that the leg 18:: and filler may be weldedto said rear wall 5. Suitable openings 20 in the back wall 5 receivefastening adjacent the rear portion of the side plates. IntermediatePatented Aug. 3, 1965 The insert 9 has the upper ends of its side.

a the front and rear portions of the side plates 21 and extendingdownwardly for a portion of the depth thereof are opposing slots 23.

The mechanism for measuring clean toweling withdrawal and take-up ofsoiled toweling includes two driven rollers commonly referred to as themeasuring roller 24 and the take-up roller 25. Roller 24 has a lengthless than the spacing between plates 21 and has a shaft integraltherewith provided with bearing extensions 26 journaled in suitableopenings in plates 21 and extending therethrough. Roller is of similarlength and has shaft extensions 27 journaled in plates 21 and extendingtherethrough. Adjacent the front edges of plates 21 are op posing slots28 disposed between the plate front edges and the measuring roller shaftextension 26. A pinch roller 29 is mounted between plates 21 so as tohave bearing engagement with measuring roller 24 and has shaftextensions 39 journaled in slots 28 for bodily movement therein towardsand away from roller 24. A soiled toweling take-up roller 31 is disposedbetween plates 21 so as to have bearing engagement with take-up roller25 and has shaft extensions 32 journaled in plate slots 23 for bodilymovement therein towards and away from roller 25 to accommodate increasein diameter of the soiled toweling accumulating thereon. Exteriorly ofone plate 21 the measuring and take-up roller shaft extensions 26 and 27have secured thereto driving sprockets 33 and 34 which are connected bya suitable drive chain 35, FIG. 1. These sprockets and chain are spacedoutwardly ofthe adjacent plate 21 providing space for mounting of aroller control mechanism adjacent plate 21 as now to be described.

The roller control mechanism stops forward rotation of the measuringroller after a preselected length of toweling has been withdrawn andprevents reverse rotation of the take-up roller to prevent withdrawal ofsoiled toweling therefrom. Such control mechanism preferably includes atiming mechanism providing a time interval before an additional lengthof toweling can be withdrawn.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 4 to 7 of the drawings, a levermember 36 is pivotally mounted at 27 adjacent one end thereof upon platemember 21 and extends forwardly across the ends of take-up roller 25 andmeasuring roller 24. Preferably lever as is a plate-like member narrowerat its pivotally mounted end and wider at its opposite end. Forconvenience, lever 36 is mounted at one end upon take-up roller shaftextension 27 for movement relative to and independently thereof.However, lever 36 may be mounted upon plate 21 in any other suitablemanner. The opposite end of lever member 36 is provided with verticallyspaced stop surfaces 37 and 38 extending outwardly from the surface ofthe lever member. Since the end of lever member 36 extends past themeasuring roller shaft extension 26, the member 36 has a suitableslotted opening 39 therein for receiving the said extension and for freemovement relative thereto.

Mounted upon measuring roller shaft extension 26 for movement concurrenttherewith is a camming member 40, having a plate-like central portionand two extensions 41 and 42 respectively for selective engagement withlever 36 stop surfaces 37 and 38. The member 40 has at one side thereofa cam shaped portion 43 extending between extensions 41 and 42 forselective displacement of lever 36 in one direction ,upon rotation ofmeasuring roller 24. Lever 36 has attached thereto a tension spring 44whose opposite end is connected with plate 21 above the lever 36, fornormally maintaining the lever 36 in a position permiting withdrawal ofclean toweling only.

Preferably the mechanism of FIGS. 4 to 7 includes a timing device whosefunction is to maintain lever 36 in a position to prevent rapidsuccessive withdrawals of clean toweling. Any suitable timing device maybe employed, preferably one adjustable to provide a variable timeinterval between clean toweling withdrawals. One such suitable device,now commercially available, is indicated generally at 45 and includes ahousing 46 within which are mounted suitable gears, one of which 4-7projects from the housing. Mounted upon the housing 46 and connectedwith the said gears, within the housing, is a lever member 48.Advancement of lever 48 in one direction retards the speed of rotationof gear 47 and advancement of the lever in the opposite directionpermits faster rotation of gear 47, under a given force applied to gear47. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 the force applied to gear 4'? is fromspring 44, placed under tension from movement of lever 36, and thisspring acts through the member 4? (FIG. 5) mounted upon lever 36 stopsurface 37. As a matter of convenience the spring 44 has one endattached to timer housing 45 at 50, but may be otherwise connected toplate 21 as desired.

Referring now to the method of assembly of the towel dispensingmechanism with the cabinet, threading a roll of clean toweling throughthe mechanism and removal of the roll of soiled toweling, as well as themode of operation of the towel dispensing mechanism, reference is madefirst to FIGS. 1 through 4 of the drawings. The cabinet may be mountedupon any suitable support (not shown) by engaging the openings 20(FIG. 1) of the cabinet rear wall 5 over suitable fasteners (not shown)secured to the said support. For this purpose doors 13 and 1d of thecabinet may be open. The mechanism of FIG. 4 may then be mounted withinthe cabinet by engaging portions 22 of each side plate 21 of the mechanism with the slots 16d, 17d of members 16 and 17 upon the cabinet backwall 5 and then lowering the mechanism to engage the side plate,portions 22 with the slots 16c and 17e, whereby the mechanism will beheld within the cabinet. During the above assembly movements tray 51(FIG. 3) is withdrawn towards the front of the mechanism, and afterassembly is moved inwardly to engage channel 52 of the tray with theoutstanding leg 18b of member 18 to lock the mechanism in place.

A roll of clean toweling T as shown by dot and dash lines is mountedwithin the cabinet upon bottom member 1t and the outer end of thetoweling is carried upwardly for insertion. between the measuring roll24 and the pinch roll 29, then moved over the top of the pinch roll andoutwardly of the cabinet where it will protrude. through opening 15(FIG. 1) after cabinet doors 13 and 14; are closed. Theend of cleantoweling is then drawn downwardly to form a loop about 20 inches belowcabi-.

net bottom it and then inserted into the cabinet through opening 11 andin back of member 12. The free end of the toweling is then movedupwardly within the cab inet and wound several times upon soiledtoweling roll 31. The roll 31 may be moved upwardly within slot '23 forthis purpose and then lowered in the slot 23 to contact the towelingthereon with the mechanism take-up roll 25. A thus assembled cleantoweling within the mechanism is separated from soiled toweling byshield plate 54 and at the bottom of the cabinet the clean toweling isprotected from the soiled toweling by shield plate. member 12. Themechanism is now ready for dispensing clean toweling. It should be notedthat here a user. could not intentionally or mistakenly withdraw soiledtoweling from the cabinet. To do this would necessitate rotation ofcamrning member in a counter-clockwise direction causing portion 42 ofthe camming member (FIG. 4) to abut against lever stop 38 preventingfurther rotation.

To withdraw a length of clean toweling, the exposed and 25 causessimultaneous rotation of both rollers so that soiled toweling istakenup, upon take-up roll 31, simultaneously withwithdrawal of cleantoweling. As shown in FIG. 4, clockwise rotationof camming member 40,mounted upon measuring roller shaft extension 26, first causes extension41 thereof to move beneath lever 36 stop portion 37 and upon continuedrotation engages cam surface 43 with lever stop surface 38 moving lever36 from the position of FIG. 4 to FIG. 5. After the cam surface 43 movesout of engagement with the lever stop surface 38 the. caming memberextension 41 engages lever stop surface 37 (FIG. 5) preventing rotationof the measuring and take-up rollers 24 and 25. Additionally, duringmovement of lever 36 from the position of FIG. 4 to that of FIG. 5 thespring 44 attached to lever 36 is extended and is now under tension. Forso long as the user maintains a pull on the toweling the mechanism willremain as shown in FIG. 5. When the user releases the towel, as forpurpose of dryinghands, the pressure from camming member extension uponlever stop surface is released and spring 44 returns lever 36 from theposition of FIG. 5 to that of FIG. 4 and the mechanism is againpositioned for withdrawal of toweling. Thus a user could maliciouslymake a plurality of rapid withdrawals of clean toweling, if so disposed,and even withdraw all remaining clean toweling from the roll. To preventthis, or to at least discourage this practice, a timing device iscustomarily employed to impose a preselected time interval before thelever 36 is moved to release position after tension upon the toweling isdiscontinued.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the timing device 45 is disposed adjacent andabove lever 36. A flexible member 49 attached to lever stop surface 37moving with lever 36 engages over and between the teeth of gear 47 ofthe timing device when lever 36 is positioned as in FIG. 5. Thus, afterthe user stops pulling on the toweling, the spring 44 cannot returnlever 36 to the position of FIG. 4 until the spring 44 pulling on lever36 causes timing device gear 47 to rotate a sufficient distance to causemember 49 to move free thereof. Thereafter the spring 44 returns lever36 to the position shown in FIG. 4 and an additional length of towelingcan be withdrawn as before described. When member 48 of the timingdevice is to the extreme right, as shown in FIG. 4, the shortest timeinterval for operation of the mechanism is provided, when moved to theextreme left of the position (FIG. 4) the longest time interval isprovided.

After all the clean toweling is withdrawn an attendant can remove theroll of soiled toweling and insert a roll of clean toweling in themanner previously described.

It will be apparent from FIGS. 4 and 5 that the camming member andmeasuring roll make one complete revolution in moving from one positionto another. Thus the length of toweling withdrawable is about the lengthof the circumference of measuring roller 24. Hence, the length oftoweling dispensed may be varied by modifying the diameter of themeasuring roller, or otherwise modifying the relationship between thelever 36 and the camming member which actuated it. It Will be furtherunderstood that both the lever 36 and camming member may be variouslymodified as to form, mode of mounting and in the coordinating positionsthereof without departing from the invention as disclosed and defined bythe appended claims. Also, the drive sprockets and chain controllingmovement of the measuring roller 24 and takeup roller 25 may be mountedupon the opposite ends of the respective rollers, from that shown, ormay also be mounted between the ends of the rollers and plate 21.

I claim:

1. In a dispensing mechanism, in combination a pair of rollers,

means for eifecting simultaneous rotation of said rollers during eachdispensing operation,

a lever pivoted at one end,

a pair of spaced stop surfaces on said lever remote from its pivot,

a camming member mounted on one of said rollers for concurrent rotationtherewith,

spaced stop members on said camming member for selective engagement withsaid lever stop surfaces to selectively restrict rotation of saidrollers in opposite directions,

springs means connected with said lever nomally positioning it relativeto the camming member to permit only a dispensing movement of saidrollers,

said camming member upon an initial rotation of its associated rollerduring a dispensing operation engaging and moving said lever into aposition for a subsequent engagement of a camming member stop with astop member surface of said lever for termination of simultaneousoperation of said rollers.

2. The dispensing mechanism as defined in claim 1 wherein said leverwhen positioned to permit a dispensing operation of said mechanismprovides a stop surface engageable by one of the stops on said cammingmember restricting reverse operation of the mechanism.

3. The dispensing mechanism as defined in claim 1 wherein said springmeans includes a timing device actuated by a dispensing operation of themechanism to retain the lever stop surface in abutting relation with acamming member stop surface for a predetermined time interval aftertermination of the dispensing operation.

4. In a towel dispensing mechanism, in combination a pair of mechanismside plates maintained in fixed spaced relation,

a pair of spaced rollers journaled in said side plates for concurrentrotary movement about fixed axes during a towel dispensing operation,

a roller control member pivotally mounted adjacent one end thereof uponone of said side plates and having its free end extending towards theaxis of rotation of one of said rollers,

a camming member mounted upon said latter roller for movement concurrenttherewith,

a pair of spaced projecting surfaces on said caming member,

a cam surface on said camming member extending between said spacedprojecting surfaces thereof,

spaced stop surfaces on said roller control member at one side of thepivotal support thereof for selective engagement by said camming membercam surface and projecting surfaces, and

means associated with one end of said roller control member normallypositioning the said member for a towel dispensing operation andprevention of a reverse operation of the said rollers,

said camming member cam surface upon rotation of its associated rollerduring a dispensing operation acting to move said roller control memberfrom a position preventing reverse rotation of said rollers into aposition causing engagement of a roller control member stop surface witha camming member projecting surface to terminate simultaneous dispensingoperation of said rollers.

5. The towel dispensing mechanism as defined in claim 4, wherein atiming means is associated with said roller control member providing apreselected time interval between termination of a towel dispensingoperation of said rollers and the return of the roller control member toa position for a further towel dispensing operation of said rollers.

6. A towel dispensing cabinet comprising, in combination,

a casing having spaced side walls and connecting top and back walls,

a front wall on said casing comprised of a pair of hinged sectionshaving an opening therebetween for passage of toweling,

'2? 8 abottom wall on said casing having an opening therein secure theunit in fixed relation upon said casing for passage of toweling into thecasing, back Wall. an angular member secured to the said casing back 7.A toweling dispensing cabinet as in claim 6 wherein wall and extendingdownwardly from said top wall the means slidable on said unit provides aclosure memadjacent each side wall, 5 her separating the dispensing unitfrom the base portion a toweling dispensing unit disposed within saidcasing, of said casing. means on said unit and casing back wall angularmembers for detachably supporting the unit upon said References Cited ythe Examlllel' fasing k l, 1 b d UNITED STATES PATENTS a ransversey exen mg angu ar mem er secure to 10 said casing back wall below said unit,and means on said unit slidably movable towards and away 2,957,636 10/60Lesavoy 242 55 53 from said transversely extending angular member to ICLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner.

1. IN AN DISPENSING MECHANISM, IN COMBINATION A PAIR OF ROLLERS, MEANSFOR EFFECTING SIMULTANEOUS ROTATION OF SAID ROLLERS DURING EACHDISPENSING OPERATION, A LEVER PIVOTED AT ONE END, A PAIR OF SPACED STOPSURFACES ON SAID LEVER REMOTE FROM ITS PIVOT, A CAMMING MEMBER MOUNTEDON ONE OF SAID ROLLERS FOR CONCURRENT ROTATION THEREWITH, SPACED STOPMEMBERS ON SAID CAMMING MEMBER FOR SELECTIVE ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID LEVERSTOP SURFACES TO SELECTIVELY RESTRICT ROTATION OF SAID ROLLERS INOPPOSITE DIRECTIONS, SPRINGS MEANS CONNECTED WITH SAID LEVER NORMALLYPOSITIONING IT RELATIVE TO THE CAMMING MEMBER TO PERMIT ONLY ADISPENSING MOVEMENT OF SAID ROLLERS, SAID CAMMING MEMBER UPON AN INITIALROTATION OF ITS ASSOCIATED ROLLER DURING A DISPENSING OPERATION EN-